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Sukulwenkosi Dube Chronicle Correspondent
THE Zanu-PF secretary for production and labour Cde Dzikamai Mavhaire has accused private cattle buyers of cheating farmers in rural areas by buying livestock for a song, denying the villagers value for their animals.Cde Mavhaire, who is also the Minister of Energy and Power Development, visited Mangwe district recently, where he urged local authorities to assist farmers in finding markets for their livestock.
He also implored the farmers in Matabeleland South to commercialise livestock production to derive more profit from them.
“A number of villagers in the rural areas have little in terms of wealth and they should be assisted on how to utilise what they have. A number of elderly people in the community are being cheated off their money by greedy private livestock buyers,” said Cde Mavhaire.
“These elderly people don’t know the market price and it’s the duty of the local authority to provide these people with the appropriate markets they need in the form of organised public cattle sales.
“In these public sales, farmers have to be assured that they will sell their animals at good prices.”
He said Zanu-PF and the government were disturbed by people who trick helpless villagers into selling their livestock for as low as $300, when the average price of cattle is upward of $600.
“It’s a pity because these elderly people spend a lot of time looking after livestock and get sick money in return. A farmer should be able to buy another beast after selling one and remain with money to sustain his family,” said Cde Mavhaire.
“The local authorities know where the markets are and they should call in buyers who have proper intentions into their districts. Organise proper markets and do not allow thieves to take advantage of farmers.”
A farmer from Mangwe who identified himself as Mkhokheli Maseko said they were not guaranteed of good prices even during public sales organised by the local authority.
“We’ve public sales organised by the council but the problem is that sometimes the cattle are not properly graded. You find a buyer paying $500 for a beast worth more than that and the local authority does nothing to control the prices set by the buyers,” he said.
“It becomes a challenge for those who’re not aware of the market price for each grade especially the old people. What we want is for these buyers to stop taking advantage of the rural folk.”
Maseko said farmers have a right to access proper markets and realise good profits from their livestock.
Mangwe Rural District Council chief executive officer Nketha Mangoye Dlamini said some farmers were struggling to commercialise their activities as they were used to selling their livestock out of desperation.
“Some farmers breed their livestock over a long period of time and when they are desperate they sell their livestock at a sick price. The reason why these private buyers take advantage of them is because they know that they will come across farmers who are desperate for money,” said Mangoye-Dlamini.
“If the person selling needs $200 desperately, then a buyer offering them $300 becomes ideal. This is the mindset which we’re trying to do away with in the district, to discourage people from selling out of desperation.”
Dlamini said as a local authority, they sometimes failed to control prices during public auctions as they were determined by buyers.
He said some auctions were held without the presence of a government grader whose duty is to classify the livestock according to their categories.
Online Reporter